Chapter 22
Molly
Whistling, I loaded up a tray of caffeine-infused cocktails for the ladies who lived upstairs in the warehouse, along with one non-alcoholic drink. I’d only just started my shift in Divide, restocking the bar with bottles of Storm Force whisky, so sloping off on the boss’s orders was no hardship.
I carefully carried my delivery up in the lift to the seventh floor, tapping on Cassie’s front door.
She let me in with a flourish, and I carried the tray into the midst of a gang of excited women.
This wasn’t my first rodeo, so I handed the fruit mocktail to the visibly pregnant Everly, whose name I’d learned since last time I’d done this, and the five espresso martinis to the other women.
I was careful to avoid the paperwork they had strewn around the coffee table.
A map of the city and printouts of articles with headlines about the Marchant case that was everywhere on the news.
“I’m guessing the detective work is back in play?” I straightened and tucked my tray under my arm.
Cassie grinned at me. “I’ve still got you in mind for spy work, should we need it.”
A little jolt of happiness blossomed in my chest. I didn’t have many friends in this place, and I liked their meetings.
The vibe always felt good, everyone easy with each other, including Lovelyn, who I’d met at another bar I worked at, and a beautiful blonde woman I’d worked out was Genevieve, the wife of Arran Daniels, who the staff talked about in respectful whispers.
There was a new face here this evening, though. Another blonde woman, but shorter, and with a killer figure.
I blinked then recognised her. “Dixie, right?”
All of them stiffened. Dixie’s smile dropped.
Yep. That was the sound of a room closing ranks.
I’d said something wrong. I didn’t know what, but in naming her, I’d freaked her out. I babbled to correct any assumptions. “I’m Molly. We met on my first day here. My trial? I brought you water. I’ve only done a few days since.”
Dixie tried to smile. “Oh, hey, hun.”
No one else said a word. Two swapped a nervous glance.
Damn. It was time for me to get out. I backed away to the door. “I need to return to the bar.”
Cassie pursued me out. “Molly?”
I winced and turned around, bringing my tray in front of me like a shield. “Yes?”
Please don’t fire me. Or murder me.
Cassie tilted her head. “It would be really cool if ye didn’t mention seeing Dixie tonight. People are talking about her being back, but she isn’t ready to get a deluge of visitors. We’d rather they thought she’d left.”
I raised my tray. “I have no friends on staff. I won’t say shit. Zero gossip girl.”
She thanked me, and I beat a hasty retreat.
It was a bad day to be a Gemini. My need to chat with everyone had got me in trouble before, and I’m pretty sure it had just got me into trouble again.
But if there was anyone who could keep a secret, I was their woman.
I’d had plenty of practice.